Emergency Room

Dr. Armand Dorian prefers to work in the Emergency Room at Verdugo Hills Hospital because he likes living on full adrenaline. Millions of television viewers will have the opportunity to watch Dorian reenact four of his adrenaline-inducing emergency room cases on this season's episodes of "Untold Stories of the ER," which airs Monday nights at 9 p.m. on The Learning Channel. "They routinely e-mail ER physicians for story ideas, looking for new show material," Dorian said. "One night there was a really sad case, and I was really upset and frustrated afterwards so I sat down that night and wrote the story and sent it in."

Being born into the Trojan family recently took on new meaning at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, which last month celebrated its first newborn delivery under the university's management. Baby Nolan was born at 8:17 a.m. on July 16 to Altadena residents Doris Trujillo, 35, and Jeremy Willenborg, 36. The couple's second son, Nolan weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces, according to a statement by the hospital. After two years of merger talks, USC purchased Verdugo Hills in July with plans to invest $30 million into expanding the 158-bed hospital's obstetrics department and renovating its emergency room.

Most everyone knows how important it is to properly place small children in a car seat when the child will be riding in a motor vehicle. But, evidently, not everyone knows about another seemingly small detail that also could be vital in safeguarding a small child. The excitement of a traumatic automobile accident or other incident that sends a young child to the hospital can be much more difficult for family members — and possibly even defer necessary treatment for the child — if emergency room personnel are unable to quickly determine who the child and their parent or guardian is, as well as any pertinent medical information.

I walked in the emergency room of Verdugo Hills Hospital for the second time in 25 years. This time, thank goodness, my visit was to talk with Dr. David Tashman, the co-director of this ER. The reception room was spotless and had a fresh, clean scent. I might have sniffed rubbing alcohol, but only because I think all hospital waiting areas should smell like medical clinics. And my memories of my dad's medical office always involved some doctor-type aroma. I waited about five minutes, leafing through magazines that were five to six years old. No criticism intended.

I will continue from last week with tips on how to ensure that patients, families, doctors, and caregivers are given consideration when a patient is in the hospital. This knowledge is essential in order to help the patient get the best health care. Food : If a patient is eating, come back in 30 minutes. Sometimes the patient's intake of food is measured for medical reasons. Eat nothing from their tray. If bringing food in from the outside, you may bring some for yourself and for the patient if the patient is not on a restricted diet.

Ken Khteian, on the mend this week from a rattlesnake bite that sent him to the hospital for a three-day stay, cautions his fellow La Cañadans to be watchful for the venomous reptiles. "Having gone through this, I've learned to be very careful," the 55-year-old Khteian said during an interview in his Palm Drive home Aug. 4, three days after he was bitten on his hand in his yard. "I think people should be warned that rattlesnakes can be hiding in piles of wood, in shade, near rocks or water."

Q. What kind of information should I carry with me in case of emergency? You are very wise to think of this in advance of an emergency. If you have a cell phone, you should program the acronym “ICE” into it. This stands for “In Case of Emergency” and paramedics and other first responders are trained to look for it. You would program in the numbers of the people you would want contacted, in the order you would want them contacted. In my case, they would not be the numbers of my most frequent calls.

My aunt and uncle own a home in Tucson, Ariz., decorated with antiques, mementos of their international travels, and most of the newest technogadgets. This includes a nifty, widescreen plasma monitor, plus a "Direct TV" package. Not so direct, that DTV, as it refused to communicate with the VHS below. My uncle and I sank to carpet level and fiddled with various wires. Satisfied, I stood and my arthritis ridden uncle tried to. "Um, I'm not exactly sure how I got down here or how I'm going to get up," my uncle, aged 90, pondered as he grasped the edge of a sturdy coffee table.

Q. I will be entering the hospital soon to have hip replacement surgery. I've heard so much about how soon they discharge patients now. Do you have any suggestions to make my hospital stay as productive as possible? —Jerry, La Cañada It is very helpful to have an advocate with you for at least the first 18 hours. This advocate can be a family member or a friend. Your advocate can see to it that you have food even if it is not a regularly scheduled mealtime.

In light of recent tragedies, it’s more important than ever to consider the need for local emergency trauma units. Perhaps that’s why the Flintridge La Cañada Guild of the Huntington Memorial Hospital is seeing an overwhelming response to purchase tickets for events at this weekend’s 88th annual Children’s Horse Show, despite national economic concerns, said Horse Show Chair Stephanie Sepulveda. Sepulveda grew up in La Cañada and rode in the Children’s Horse Show as a child, she said.

Being born into the Trojan family recently took on new meaning at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, which last month celebrated its first newborn delivery under the university's management. Baby Nolan was born at 8:17 a.m. on July 16 to Altadena residents Doris Trujillo, 35, and Jeremy Willenborg, 36. The couple's second son, Nolan weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces, according to a statement by the hospital. After two years of merger talks, USC purchased Verdugo Hills in July with plans to invest $30 million into expanding the 158-bed hospital's obstetrics department and renovating its emergency room.

Q. What kind of information should I carry with me in case of emergency? You are very wise to think of this in advance of an emergency. If you have a cell phone, you should program the acronym “ICE” into it. This stands for “In Case of Emergency” and paramedics and other first responders are trained to look for it. You would program in the numbers of the people you would want contacted, in the order you would want them contacted. In my case, they would not be the numbers of my most frequent calls.

I walked in the emergency room of Verdugo Hills Hospital for the second time in 25 years. This time, thank goodness, my visit was to talk with Dr. David Tashman, the co-director of this ER. The reception room was spotless and had a fresh, clean scent. I might have sniffed rubbing alcohol, but only because I think all hospital waiting areas should smell like medical clinics. And my memories of my dad's medical office always involved some doctor-type aroma. I waited about five minutes, leafing through magazines that were five to six years old. No criticism intended.

Q. I am trying to help my 80-year-old mom with her medical care, but I have a hard time getting information from her doctor’s office. Can you suggest a better way for me to approach this issue? A good first step is to ask the doctor’s office if they would like your mom to sign a HIPPA release before they give you information about her health and care. That way there will be no chance of their violating her right to privacy. As a family caregiver, you must have certain essential information in order to provide the best possible care at home.

Q. I will be entering the hospital soon to have hip replacement surgery. I've heard so much about how soon they discharge patients now. Do you have any suggestions to make my hospital stay as productive as possible? —Jerry, La Cañada It is very helpful to have an advocate with you for at least the first 18 hours. This advocate can be a family member or a friend. Your advocate can see to it that you have food even if it is not a regularly scheduled mealtime.

In light of recent tragedies, it’s more important than ever to consider the need for local emergency trauma units. Perhaps that’s why the Flintridge La Cañada Guild of the Huntington Memorial Hospital is seeing an overwhelming response to purchase tickets for events at this weekend’s 88th annual Children’s Horse Show, despite national economic concerns, said Horse Show Chair Stephanie Sepulveda. Sepulveda grew up in La Cañada and rode in the Children’s Horse Show as a child, she said.

Most everyone knows how important it is to properly place small children in a car seat when the child will be riding in a motor vehicle. But, evidently, not everyone knows about another seemingly small detail that also could be vital in safeguarding a small child. The excitement of a traumatic automobile accident or other incident that sends a young child to the hospital can be much more difficult for family members — and possibly even defer necessary treatment for the child — if emergency room personnel are unable to quickly determine who the child and their parent or guardian is, as well as any pertinent medical information.

I will continue from last week with tips on how to ensure that patients, families, doctors, and caregivers are given consideration when a patient is in the hospital. This knowledge is essential in order to help the patient get the best health care. Food : If a patient is eating, come back in 30 minutes. Sometimes the patient's intake of food is measured for medical reasons. Eat nothing from their tray. If bringing food in from the outside, you may bring some for yourself and for the patient if the patient is not on a restricted diet.

My aunt and uncle own a home in Tucson, Ariz., decorated with antiques, mementos of their international travels, and most of the newest technogadgets. This includes a nifty, widescreen plasma monitor, plus a "Direct TV" package. Not so direct, that DTV, as it refused to communicate with the VHS below. My uncle and I sank to carpet level and fiddled with various wires. Satisfied, I stood and my arthritis ridden uncle tried to. "Um, I'm not exactly sure how I got down here or how I'm going to get up," my uncle, aged 90, pondered as he grasped the edge of a sturdy coffee table.

Dr. Armand Dorian prefers to work in the Emergency Room at Verdugo Hills Hospital because he likes living on full adrenaline. Millions of television viewers will have the opportunity to watch Dorian reenact four of his adrenaline-inducing emergency room cases on this season's episodes of "Untold Stories of the ER," which airs Monday nights at 9 p.m. on The Learning Channel. "They routinely e-mail ER physicians for story ideas, looking for new show material," Dorian said. "One night there was a really sad case, and I was really upset and frustrated afterwards so I sat down that night and wrote the story and sent it in."